Source: New South Wales – News
Police advise that the bus interchange at Tea Tree Plaza is currently closed due to a single vehicle crash involving a bus.
There are no updates on injuries, but police advise no passengers were on the bus at the time.
The O-Bahn will be affected for transport from Tea Tree Plaza.
Please allow for extra time in your journey.
Source:
On average, 18 people die in house fires in Victoria each year.
Fire Rescue Commissioner Gavin Freeman AFSM warned that in a fire, every second counts.
“While Victorians might gain an extra hour on Sunday, in the event of a fire they would not be so lucky – a smoke alarm is your first line of defence,” Commissioner Freeman said.
“Smoke alarms provide a vital early warning to help you and your family escape. Fires can engulf an entire room in just minutes and smoke will not wake you up.”
Commissioner Freeman said it was important to not only install smoke alarms in all bedrooms, living areas and hallways but to test them regularly.
“To test your smoke alarm, simply press the ‘test’ button for about three seconds. If you don’t hear three beeps it’s a good sign the battery or smoke alarm needs replacing,” Commissioner Freeman said.
“All smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and those with replaceable batteries should be changed yearly.”
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the best way to keep your family safe is to install interconnected smoke alarms, so that when one alarm activates, all smoke alarms will sound, allowing you to evacuate early.
“Last year our CFA firefighters attended 870 residential fires and tragically, four of those ended with lives lost, which could have been prevented,” CO Heffernan said.
“Smoke alarms with 10-year long life batteries combined with monthly testing could just save your life.
“It’s also best to install a smoke alarm on each level of your home and where devices are often charged, such as garages.
“We encourage you to take the time to check your smoke alarms this weekend.”
When checking, installing, or replacing your smoke alarms, FRV and CFA recommend.
| Submitted by | CFA media |
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There are volcanic eruptions occurring on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Southwest Iceland, near the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. Avoid areas near the eruption site and areas close to mountains with steep slopes on the Reykjanes peninsula due to the danger of falling rocks. Further eruptions could happen at any time and without warning. Southern Iceland could be affected by potentially dangerous volcanic gas clouds, including Þorlákshöfn and Vestmannaeyjar. If you’re in an area affected by volcanic gas, monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of local authorities (see ‘Safety’). The international airport remains open.
Source: New South Wales Community and Justice
Fatal crash – Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek
Friday, 4 April 2025 – 2:40 am.
Sadly, a man aged in his seventies has died as a result of a two vehicle crash on the Lyell Highway at Sorell Creek.
Police and emergency services were called to the scene around 9:15pm after reports of a head on crash.
The driver, and sole occupant of one of the vehicles sadly died at the scene. At this stage, it appears the man suffered a medical episode. The occupants of the second vehicle were uninjured.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.
Anyone who witnessed, or has dash camera footage of a silver Great Wall Utility around the time of the crash, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously and quote TCRN: 25002254.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Both Thor’s Hammer and Women’s Shed Canberra are grant recipients.
Fourteen social enterprises have been successful in the ACT Government’s new social enterprise grants program.
The ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program aims to support new social enterprises to start up, and help existing social enterprises to take the next step in their business journey.
The 14 enterprises will share in $340,000, to help get their ideas off the ground with the support of The Mill House Ventures.
The Mill House Ventures is delivering the grant program on behalf of the ACT Government, and will work with the recipients to help them achieve their purpose.
“As the key organisation supporting social enterprises in the ACT, The Mill House Ventures is thrilled that these grants will provide so much practical assistance to our region’s early stage and start up social enterprises,” CEO at The Mill House Ventures Craig Fairweather said.
“The independent assessment panel had a very difficult, but rewarding, task in determining the final list of successful grant recipients.”
The recipients are highly motivated and committed to supporting the local Canberra community, providing solutions to challenges and building resilience.
Grant recipients include:
The delivery of social enterprise grants was identified as a transformative project in CBR Switched On: ACT’s Economic Development Priorities 2022 – 2025.
ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program recipients:
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
There are nine new units complete.
Nine new public housing units in West Belconnen are now complete and ready to welcome tenants.
The homes have been developed under the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program, which has seen more than 475 homes built and a further 577 under design or construction since the launch of the program in July 2019.
The new homes add to the category of public housing in highest demand: approximately 80 per cent of all housing applicants can be housed in a two-bedroom dwelling.
Each of the homes is equipped with Class C adaptable features, suitable for people with different mobility and accessibility needs, and support tenants to age in place.
They are located close to a school, shops, and transport and feature a 7-star energy rating, offering greater comfort and increased affordability for tenants.
The program demonstrates the ACT Government’s commitment to providing high-quality public housing that caters to tenants’ needs.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Tuggeranong has over 30 dog off-leash areas and one dog park, with another on the way.
Tuggeranong is a dog friendly region of Canberra, with plenty of on-leash and off-leash open spaces for you and your four-legged friend to explore together.
Here are some of our favourite spots:
Dog parks
There is one dog park in Tuggeranong, with another one on its way.
Greenway – Mortimer Lewis Drive, Lake Tuggeranong
Located next to the picturesque Lake Tuggeranong, this scenic dog park is an ideal spot for your dog to socialise and play.
Large eucalyptus trees provide shade and there are large grassy areas. There are also benches so you can take a seat while your dog plays nearby.
There are two separate play areas: one for smaller dogs, and one for larger dogs.
Lanyon dog park – corner of Jim Pike Avenue and Woodcock Avenue, Gordon
Design work is progressing for a new fenced dog park near Point Hut Pond. Construction is expected to begin later in 2024.
Find more information and keep up to date.
Off-leash areas
There are over 30 areas that are dog off-leash in the Tuggeranong region.
Point Hut Pond
On hot days, take your dog to the western riverbank of Point Hut Crossing and Point Hut Bond. There are dog swimming spaces where your pooch can have a paddle before running themselves dry on the riverbank.
Calwell Playing Fields
With plenty of open space, Calwell Playing Fields is the perfect spot for zoomies or a game of fetch.
It’s important to know that ovals or sportsgrounds are conditional spaces. This means that if the oval is in use (i.e. when it is booked for formal sport, including training sessions), you and your dog will need to come back later.
Fadden Pines District Park
The side of this park closest to the Futsal Centre (the opposite side to the playground and skate park) is a dog off-leash area. There’s a large grassy area perfect for playing, and shady trees throughout the area.
There are public toilets on the other side of the park near the barbecue area. However, remember that when in use, all playgrounds, picnic areas and barbecue areas (as well as sportsgrounds) become dog prohibited areas. If they’re not in use, you’re able to venture into this area with your dog on their lead.
Simpsons Hill, Chisholm
This area is perfect for active dogs. There’s a grassy hill with lots of trees and space to run around.
On-leash areas
All streets, verges, footpaths and cycle paths are on-leash areas. You’ll also need to keep your dog on-leash if you’re within 10 metres either side of the path.
Lakes are also dog on-leash areas unless otherwise signposted.
Remember that regardless of where you are, it’s an offence not to pick up your dog droppings. You can receive a $150 fine for not picking up your dog’s droppings, and a $75 fine for not carrying appropriate equipment to collect your dog’s droppings. Keeping poo bags on hand near your leash (and using them to clean up after your dog) is an easy way to avoid copping a fine!
Learn more about local spots to take your dog or view on-leash, off-leash, conditional off-leash and dog prohibited areas on ACTmapi’s dog exercise area map.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Canberrans are keen for spaces where their dogs can run free.
Work has begun on the new Franklin Dog Park, located in the open space bound by Nullarbor Avenue and Oodgeroo Avenue.
Major works are expected to take approximately nine months to complete (weather permitting), meaning Gungahlin dog owners should be able to use it next summer.
The new fully fenced dog park will be the third in Gungahlin and the eighth in Canberra.
Its design follows community consultation in 2022.
Key features include:
There will also be 48 new trees planted for canopy cover, and additional shade once matured.
The ACT has one of Australia’s highest rates of pet ownership. Community feedback revealed Canberrans want space for their dogs to run free and a variety of terrains for dogs to explore and use their sense of smell.
Fenced dog exercise areas contribute to the effective management of dogs in public spaces by providing a controlled space where dogs can freely exercise and play. They also assist in alleviating the pressure on shared recreational areas.
There are several other projects currently underway across Canberra to provide more recreational opportunities for people and their dogs.
The new fenced dog park planned for the Lanyon Valley will provide more spaces for southsiders to socialise and exercise their dogs.
The Lanyon Valley dog park will include many of the same features as Franklin, including a grass play and agility areas, shade structures and seating.
A construction tender for that park will be released around the middle of the year.
Improvements to public open spaces present additional opportunities for on-leash dog walks.
These include improvements to the Tuggeranong foreshore, which are nearly complete, and upgrades to the Lake Ginninderra path circuit and Yerrabi Pond District Park.
Stay up to date on the suburban infrastructure projects being delivered, including playgrounds, local shopping centres and dog parks, at cityservices.act.gov.au/bettersuburbs.
The park will be located in the open space bound by Nullarbor Avenue and Oodgeroo Avenue.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Katie Pike will no longer need to travel interstate to train for skating competitions.
The new competition-standard half-pipe at Belconnen skatepark is another step closer.
With off-site fabrication underway, construction has now started on site to expand the skatepark alongside the legendary ‘Belco Bowl’.
Fencing of the site has been completed with works over the coming weeks to include demolition activities to provide access to site and earthworks to start preparing the area for the future half-pipe.
The concrete slab is in place and the on-site assembly of the prefabricated metal and wooden ramps is underway.
The new half-pipe is expected to open to the public early in the second half of 2024.
The Canberra Skateboarding Association and Canberra BMX Club have called for improvements to Canberra skate parks.
The city’s skate culture is already strong, and the sport is growing in popularity.
Belconnen is Canberra’s best-known skatepark and already considered world-class by many enthusiasts.
Also known as a vertical or vert ramp, the new half-pipe will take ACT skating to another level, growing the city’s appeal to both national and international skaters.
Young Canberra skater and international competitor Katie Pike is excited about the development.
“I’m really looking forward to having a competition vert ramp in my home skatepark,” she said.
“That will help me out a lot because obviously I have to travel to Sydney to skate competition vert ramps and now that we have one in Canberra it will be a lot easier. Instead of having to travel most weeks I can just train five minutes away from home.”
Joel Bliss, another local skater, is also enthusiastic.
“I’ve been waiting, I think, my whole Canberra skating life for this moment,” he said.
“The first sessions are going to be amazing. I’ll probably just drop in and roll around for a while to get used to it. Because these ramps are big! The vert ramps we are used to around here are like mini ramps in comparison to this actual proper-sized ramp, so the speed you get on these things is just a thing in itself.
“It’s going to be unreal and there will be skaters from all over Australia that will come when they hear about it. It’s going to be a good thing. I can’t wait,” Joel said.
The ACT Government manages seven skateparks and another 12 parks that feature skating facilities across Canberra.
These cater not only to skateboarders but also cyclists, scooters, rollerbladers and rollerskaters.
“I think it’s really good and I think it will help with the progression of skating in Canberra,” Katie said.
The competition-standard half-pipe is funded by both the ACT Government and the Australian Government under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
Joel Bliss can’t wait for the new half-pipe to be completed.
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Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The new homes vary in size and cater to a wide range of needs.
A new 30-unit public housing development has opened in Tuggeranong and is ready to welcome tenants.
The unit complex is one of the largest public housing developments delivered under the ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program.
The program, launched in 2019, aims to deliver 1,400 renewed or new public homes by mid-2027, which will increase the total number of public housing in the ACT by 400.
The new homes cater to a wide range of needs and are Class C Adaptable, making them suitable for people with disability and people as they grow older.
The development features an onsite playground and a range of unit sizes, from one-bedroom to four-bedroom.
They have each been completed with above-standard energy efficiency ratings, to provide tenants greater comfort and increased affordability.
The development is located close to shops, services and transport, as well Lake Tuggeranong and surrounding parks, allowing residents easy access to Tuggeranong’s outdoor spaces.
The ACT has the second-highest proportion of public housing out of any jurisdiction in the country.
The ACT Government’s Growing and Renewing Public Housing program is on track to meet its targets.
More than 640 homes have already been built or bought, and another 577 are in the construction pipeline.
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